Stewart also is charged with felony possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, court records show.

Slidell Police arrested Stewart in February at A Jazzy Dog, a pet grooming store she owns on Pontchartrain Drive. Police said at the time of her arrest that they had been investigating allegations of animal abuse since January, when two former employees filed complaints against Stewart.

A woman who applied for a job at A Jazzy Dog also filed a complaint against Stewart, police said.

The employees said Stewart frequently would "slam the dogs onto the grooming table and proceed to choke them with a leash," according to a Slidell Police report. The women who applied for an open groomer's position told police that on her interview, she saw Stewart slap a dog off of the table, causing it to dangle from the leash for at least 20 seconds.

Slidell Police spokesman Detective Daniel Seuzeneau said officers found marijuana and chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride inside Stewart's store when they arrested her on Feb. 22. Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride is used to treat anxiety, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Stewart has been released from the St. Tammany Parish Jail on a $15,000 bond.

If convicted of aggravated animal cruelty, Stewart could face between one and 10 years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine. She also could face prison time for the drug charges.